It can, but doesn't always. There's a small part of the population that tests positive for the skin test, but shows no other signs of infection.
People who've had the vaccine will show a positive skin test also.
I just read 90% of people who have the TB infection actually have a latent infection, and there's only a 10% chance of it ever becoming an active infection (in their lifetime).
Also, apparently "it is not thought to be contagious" when speaking of latent infections - and also it's not guaranteed to catch even if you get some of the good stuff from someone with an active infection (or something to that effect - it has a 22% infection rate, according to what I read on wiki... I may be interpreting that wrong).
So, it would be logical for a "small part" of the population to test positive but seem healthy - but that's the majority of TB-positive it seems.
That sucks. I remember my grandfather died of TB when I was a kid. He sounded like he was drowning everytime he coughed.
I should be good - because she seemed quite healthy at the time (it was suggested by the doc it was basically guaranteed to be a latent infection caught from someone, "who knows when"), and as I stated above, apparently latent infections aren't contagious.
I could have it, who knows, and I may have got it when I was 8 or 10, let alone when I dated her.
And I may still be TB-free. I hope so, that's a lethal thing I'd like to avoid carrying around in my body like a ticking time-bomb that may or may not be ultimately missing the fuse.
As for this moment, I hope it's just a cold. Shouldn't be the flu, considering 4 days into apparent symptoms should have me rendered unable to do much but lay on the couch... I fear a sinus infection, those almost always set up shop in my sinuses for a few weeks with varying episodes of fever.
I had a cold in August, of all times, but my body seemed generally able to fend it off in about this same time-frame, without getting to a point of feeling absolutely miserable.
I don't think I've ever had bronchitis or pneumonia, and I sure as hell don't want to start now. Damn you body, you better keep putting up the good fight and win this one in the early volleys if it's something like bronchitis.